What a remarkable contrast between David’s enjoyment of God’s rich provision for faith and the Israelites’ refusal to believe in the goodness of God’s unlimited supply. To faith, no wilderness circumstance, however adverse, can hinder the flood of God’s abundance. Nature, counting the trials encountered in the wilderness as giants, cannot appreciate that God and His infinite provision are far greater than all the needs that may be met.
Did Israel lack anything in the wilderness? Their wicked complaining did not deter Jehovah from graciously providing for them. Marah proved that He was able to make the bitter sweet while Rephidim proved that He was the sole source of refreshment in the desert. When they longed for the “fleshpots” of the world, He gave them sweet and pure bread from heaven. Yet, after all that, even the bounty of Eschol’s grapes could not penetrate the blindness of their unbelief. Throughout the desert journey, no matter what testimony they were given, they would not believe that God could “furnish a table in the wilderness.”
Does not all this have its seasonable application today, especially as regards the assembly? Surely it does. Faith hears the divine desire, “This do in remembrance of Me,” and seeks for that table where sweet fellowship with the One who “loved the church, and gave Himself for it” is enjoyed. Enemies may gather as a flood to resist, but in the very presence of such opposition, it is He who prepares a table and faith leads the believer there. Unbelief breathes a kindred spirit with Israel: “Can God furnish a table?” It reasons that such a thing as the Lord’s table can be neither found nor enjoyed in view of all the confusion of the professing Christian testimony.
Let us not, in these last days of the assembly’s history on earth, give in to such unbelief! The Lord has not changed nor has His provision for us. He still has a table for His own. The expression of His heart, “With desire I have desired to eat... with you,” has not changed either. Because we are in the midst of such disorder connected with tables established by man, it would be well to consider various tables mentioned in God’s Word which present principles characterizing the Lord’s table. In doing this, we desire that our faith may be strengthened, and that we will be able to “hold fast till [He] shall come” (Rev. 2:2525But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. (Revelation 2:25) JND).
A Table Furnished
“And thou shalt take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes thereof: two tenth deals shall be in one cake. And thou shalt set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the pure table before the Lord” (Lev. 24:56).
The “pure table” of Ex. 25:23-3023Thou shalt also make a table of shittim wood: two cubits shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. 24And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a crown of gold round about. 25And thou shalt make unto it a border of an hand breadth round about, and thou shalt make a golden crown to the border thereof round about. 26And thou shalt make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings in the four corners that are on the four feet thereof. 27Over against the border shall the rings be for places of the staves to bear the table. 28And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be borne with them. 29And thou shalt make the dishes thereof, and spoons thereof, and covers thereof, and bowls thereof, to cover withal: of pure gold shalt thou make them. 30And thou shalt set upon the table showbread before me alway. (Exodus 25:23‑30), described as covered with gold and bordered by a golden crown, teaches us that His table is marked by holiness and dignity. The twelve loaves, representing all Israel, remind us that His table is spread for the enjoyment of all His dear children. The loaves, placed fresh each sabbath “in two rows” on the table, testifies to the orderliness of His table: “God is not the author of confusion.” The frankincense on the “bread of remembrance” (Lev. 24:77And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon each row, that it may be on the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire unto the Lord. (Leviticus 24:7) JND) pictures the delight the Lord has in His furnished table. He who delights in the table He has provided may be fully trusted by faith to lead the seeking one to that blessed place.
A Table of Forgiveness
David’s table, to which Mephibosheth was brought, portrays the riches of the marvelous grace of God which dispels all fear from those who gather in His blessed presence. We are reminded that it is because of another that we enjoy this divine kindness. And in all of this, our hearts are assured by divine love that we need never search for another table at which to feed. To a believer, however, nothing should be sweeter than having a sense of the delight the Lord Jesus has in finding His own “continually” enjoying fellowship at the King’s table.
A Table of Fullness
What glorious administration is seen in Solomon’s table. Those who were appointed to provide the food of his table were responsible to see that the provision was varied in each month and suitable for all who gathered there. What wisdom these officers displayed in the “victuals” they provided for Solomon’s table! It pictures to us the Spirit of God, who in perfect, divine wisdom never allows the Lord’s table to be supplied with less than a full and seasonable feast. At one time we may feed on the Lamb of God, at another on the Man of Sorrows, while yet another presents the Eternal Son sent by the Father from the divine bosom of fellowship and love. But all this provision is the special responsibility of the Spirit, who ever brings His varied store in its seasonable time for the enjoyment of those who gather at the Lord’s table. Solomon’s table, in all its glory and richness, was never clothed with such wise and wondrous supply as may be found, provided by the Spirit, at the Lord’s table!
A Table of Fatness
What a sight the food of Solomon’s table must have been to the eye of the queen. She, so used to the grandeur and provision of her own royal table, looked upon such a richness as she had never known in Ethopia’s palaces. That fatness caused such a humbling of her heart that “there was no more spirit in her.” How good for believers, in danger of being satisfied with the religious works, carnal order and vainglory of humanly arranged tables, to view the divine fatness of the Lord’s table. How foolish that man should aspire to provide the richness of provision which the Spirit of God alone can give! But believers are called to do more than view His wonderful table: it is their blessed privilege to partake of its fatness, invited there by the divine Provider.
A Table of Freedom
In comparison to the provision of Solomon’s table, Nehemiah’s may seem quite modest. But it was a “day of small things,” a day of remnant recovery, and thus his table was exactly suited to the present condition of God’s dear people. The remnant were poor, oppressed and unable to provide for the governor as they ought. Nehemiah does not demand from them that which was his by right to expect. Instead, freeing them from all obligation, he provides of his own bounty for those who sat at his table. Today, in the midst of such great weakness and failure, we may surely feel how far short we come in voluntarily offering to the Lord that of which He is so worthy, but our blessed Jesus does not require it. Rather, He freely gives to those gathered at His table the infinite, boundless riches of His divine storehouse. The darkness of the day only serves to give a more glorious display of the free riches of His table.
A Table Finished
“Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: she hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table” (Prov. 9:1212If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it. (Proverbs 9:12)).
Here we find a table so perfectly complete that there is nothing which man can add. The Lord’s table has been perfectly set, we may say, in divine wisdom, and all that remains is that the simple (see vss. 4-5) accept the invitation to sit and enjoy its bounty. We may notice, too, the perfect moral order used by Wisdom in preparing the table: (1) The table is established and protected in the “house”; (2) the place and the table are perfectly supported and sustained by “seven pillars”; (3) the table contains the meat that strengthens; (4) joy is found there; and, (5) all is finished; nothing more is to be done. Wisdom sends forth her invitation from “the highest places of the city.” May the heart of each child of God respond to that sweet and earnest appeal.
A Table of Fragrance
How fitting that our meditation should end with this table. In all the previous tables we have considered, the one who owns it, being the source of its provision, provides the character of that table. Here, the owner of the table is the king, but the one who is the guest adds to its character, not only by what she is or does, but also by her presence there. May our hearts be deeply touched as we consider what it means to the heart of the Lord Jesus to have His beloved, blood-bought bride sitting in His presence that He might delight in the fragrance of her presence.
Let us, in closing, remark that in each of the examples presented we find a single table. The priests who served the tabernacle were not required to make a decision as to which table was to receive the twelve loaves. Mephibosheth did not have to choose which table was David’s, for he heard him say, “At my table.” The fullness, wisdom and richness of Solomon’s provisions were not displayed at multiple tables, nor could the free provision of Nehemiah’s table be found elsewhere. In like manner, there was but one perfectly completed table to which Wisdom invited her guests, and it was only at the King’s table that the bride sent forth the fragrance of her presence. Let us, then, not waver in the face of unbelief, confusion or conflict! The Lord has provided a table, His table, where He has made full and divinely-perfect provision for all of His own. He has made known to us the desire of His heart that we meet there in order that we answer to His blessed request, “This do in remembrance of Me.” Shall we not, then, in faith and obedience, avail ourselves of this wonderful place and, enjoying His presence, find our hearts fully satisfied?
“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20)). “Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine” (John 21:1212Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. (John 21:12)). “The Lord’s table” (1 Cor. 10:2121Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. (1 Corinthians 10:21)). “If any man will do His will, he shall know” (John 7:1717If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. (John 7:17)).
D. Nicolet